It’s no secret that the cost of heating your home is climbing this winter. With anticipated plunging temperatures in Northeast Ohio, most homeowners are bracing for a big hit to the budget just to keep their homes comfortable until spring.

While it may be tempting to turn up the thermostat and deal with the bill later, experts suggest making that your last resort when the cold sets in. It’s not too late to make some adjustments in your home that could you save you money now and annually.

Insulation

Many homes, especially older homes, are not as well-insulated as you think. Insulation in attics and walls may be at minimum levels and older homes often have old windows and doors with poor insulating quality and brittle weather stripping. Addressing these issues now will save you on heating costs this winter and cooling costs in the summer, as much as 15% on energy bills. What you can do:

• Replace weatherstripping or use plastic sealant kits on drafty windows.
• Replace weatherstripping and door sweeps on doors to the exterior or garage. Use a door snake where necessary.
• Pull heavy curtains or drapes over windows on cold days and at night.
• Consider replacing old drafty windows.
• Contact an expert to check the insulation in your attic and walls and add or replace insulation where needed.

Use humidifiers and fans

Moist air feels warmer than dry air, but in the effort to heat our homes we tend to remove much of the moisture from the air. Use humidifiers in the rooms you spend time in or consider adding a humidifier to your forced air heater to put that humidity back in the air.

Ceiling fans are not just for summer. Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans and keep them on the lowest setting to push the heat from the upper section of the room into your living space.

Programmable thermostats

Advanced thermostats allow you to control the comfort level in your home based on when you are in your house and which rooms you use. By setting the thermostat to ensure your space is comfortable when you are there, you remove the temptation to over-adjust when you get home from work and the house is cold, for example. Advanced thermostats are available in models that allow you to create zones in your home, so you don’t waste money overheating areas that are not used as often. These devices also allow you to control the temperature in your home remotely using smart devices. With a bit of planning, you can save 10% to 15% on your energy costs.

Contact Lew’s Reliable

Our team of expert technicians is always available to help you heat your home efficiently. We recommend a full annual inspection of your furnace, boiler, or heat pump to ensure you have complete and safe operation all winter long. Ask us about upgrading your heating system, adding a humidifier, or upgrading your thermostat so you can save money on your heating bills this winter and all year round.